Classification of Natural Products :

Classification of Natural Products :


The most important natural sources of drugs are ( higher plants , microbes & animals and marine organisms . Some useful products are obtained from minerals that are both organic and inorganic in nature .
To follow the study of the individual drugs , one must adopt some particular sequence of arrangement and this is referred to a system of classification of drugs . A method of classification should be :
A) Simple , B) Easy to use , C) Free from confusion & ambiguities .
Because of their wide distribution , each arrangement of classification has its own merits and demerits , but for the purpose of study the drugs are classified in the following different ways :

1- Alphabetical classification .
2- Morphological classification
3- Taxonomic classification
4- Pharmacological classification
5- Chemical classification
6- Chemo - taxonomical classification

1- Alphabetical Classification :

Alphabetical classification is the simplest way of classification of any disconnected items . Crude drugs are arranged in alphabetical order of their Latin and English names ( Common names ) or sometimes local
Some of the pharmacopoeias , dictionaries and reference books which classify crude drugs according to this system are as follows :
1- Indian Pharmacopoeia .
2- British =